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Van Diemen's Land became a colony because the British wished to offset the possibility of a French presence in the South Pacific. France and Great Britain were at war, with each nation seeking to expand its empire. The French had shown interest in the Australian continent since the late 1700s, but the English made the first formal claim, and wished to secure their claim by colonising the south and the west, as well as the eastern coast.

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Who circumnavigated Van Diemens Land?

Van Diemen's land (now Tasmania) was first circumnavigated by sea explorers George Bass and Matthew Flinders.


What was sighted on the 5 January 1788 during the first fleet?

Tasmania or back then it was known as Van Diemens Land.


Abel Tasman sighted an island he called Van Diemens Land in 1642 What is the island called today?

Tasmania


What was Tasmania known as before it was named Tasmania?

Van Diemen's Land


When did the first settlers move to van diemens land?

1824


Who was Tasmania originally named after?

Tasmania was originally known as Van Diemen's Land. It was given this name by Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, after Antony Van Diemen, the High Magistrate, or Governor-General of Batavia (Netherlands East Indies).Van Diemen's Land remained the name of the island until 1 January 1856, when Queen Victoria approved a petition to rename the island Tasmania, in honour of its discoverer.


Why is Tasmania called Tasmania?

Tasmania has had two different names.Tasmania's original name was Van Diemen's Land and it was named after the Governor of Batavia, Antony Van Diemen.In the mid 1800s, it was renamed after the Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, the first European to discover and land on the island.


When was Abel Tasman's first voyage?

Abel Tasman first came across what is now Australia's southernmost state, Tasmania (then Van Diemen's land) on 24 November 1642.He returned to the northern region of Australia in 1644.


When did Abel Tasman discover Van Diemen's Land?

Abel Tasman discovered and named Van Diemen's land (now Tasmania) in 1642.


What did Abel Tasman discover?

Dutch explorer Abel Tasman discovered Tasmania (at the time he named Van Diemen's land). He also discovered New Zealand and the Fijian islands.


What are facts about Abel Tasman?

- he was born in 1603 in the Netherlands - he died in 1659 - he discovered Tasmania and named it van diemans land - he was the first to sight new zealand- and he called it Staten land


Which Dutch explorer gave his name to an Australian state?

The Australian island state of Tasmania was named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman. It was not named by Tasman: originally, Tasman named the land Van Diemen's Land, after the Dutch Governor of Batavia, Antony Van Diemen. In 1856, Queen Victoria approved a petition to rename Van Diemen's Land to Tasmania, in honour of its discoverer.